Star Ocean 2 gets April release in Japan

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 1st 2008 at 5:30PM }

The First Departure hasn't even been announced for US release yet, but Japan is already on its way to the sequel. PSP's second Star Ocean game will feature the same revamped graphics, anime cutscenes and voice acting as the first remake. However, there's a special treat for Star Ocean fans that pre-order the game. A bonus DVD will feature a special preview of Star Ocean 4. Perhaps we'll finally learn what console the game will head to?

The Second Evolution will be available on April 2nd in Japan, with a standard price of 4800 yen.

Tags: square-enix, star-ocean

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Iddy @ Feb 1st 2008 7:41PM

ooo im so excited about this release, ive wanted a remake of so2 for so long, revamped characters, hopefully that means ernest isn't useless..
i love so2 on the psx, and still play it now. and with a psp release i wont have to remote play it to my psp.
only problem is a cant read japanese.. cmon square!! announce an english version-global release so us here in nz and australia can play it without importing or waiting..

merc25 @ Feb 1st 2008 9:36PM

It's not a remake, it is just a port with extra ****y artwork and anime cutscenes in the aforementioned extra ****y art style.

Iddy @ Feb 1st 2008 9:50PM

well its a revamp any was, certainly not a complete psx->psp port, if they wanted to do that theyd just need to run the game through the psp's psx emulator.
you dont really have to be so hateful toward the game.. i get your opinion - you dont like the artwork, and i respect that, i think its an improvement, what with voiced speech now instead of screens of words, and the animation during talks gives the game extra character. again looking forward to this game, great story, and it will be good to have a proper enlish translation unlike last time.. lol

merc25 @ Feb 1st 2008 11:19PM

That is perfectly fine, it does give the game more character. However, I found the character's profile art in the psx game to be a higher quality than what they are using for this version. I was expecting a less simplified style for the animated scenes, then what they are using.

I agree that they'll definitely do a better translation this time around. But I can't be so optimistic about the voice acting as you are, I know Star Ocean's track record with that aspect. The gameplay will be as astounding as it was nearly a decade ago. The I always like the musical score of the games, including SO3(which I despised in almost every other aspect).

Akamaru @ Feb 1st 2008 10:07PM

I never played the first Star Ocean on the PS1 though I always wanted to but there just too many games on the PS1, a ton of them which were awesome RPGs. I can't wait for the PSP versions and their now-gen sequels. And I think I know what console it's gonna be on ;-)

Iddy @ Feb 2nd 2008 3:58AM

http://www.eternalsphere.com/so2/top.html
go here for more info + some images. it's in japanese but the headings are english so you can navigate the pictures.
by the looks of IS the same game graphically/gameplay, going off the screens of it, it just has an anime character talking in the foreground during dialogue.
still, looks amazing! (im such a fanboy ^^)